Anchoring system

Abstract

An anchoring system for anchoring a pole to a ground surface, the anchoring system including a plurality of modules interconnectable to one another for surrounding the pole, each module including a support leg configured for extending into the ground surface so as to provide anchoring support to the pole on a given side of said pole, each module of the anchoring system further including at least two mounting interfaces disposed distally from the support leg and configured for resting against the pole, and each module of the anchoring system further including at least one connecting member extending from an edge of the support leg to a corresponding mounting interface, said the least one connecting member further operatively extending between said at least two mounting interfaces.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An anchoring system for anchoring a pole to a ground surface, the anchoring system comprising a plurality of modules interconnectable to one another for surrounding the pole, each module comprising a support leg configured for extending into the ground surface to provide anchoring support to the pole on a given side of said pole, said each module of the anchoring system further comprising at least two mounting interfaces disposed distally from the support leg and configured for resting against the pole, and said each module of the anchoring system further comprising at least one connecting member extending from an edge of the support leg to a corresponding mounting interface, said at least one connecting member further operatively extending between said at least two mounting interfaces; said at least one connecting member comprising a support leg section extending along a segment of the edge of the support leg, the support leg sections of adjacent connecting members forming a continuous link between said adjacent connecting members. 
     
     
       2. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connecting member of a first mounting interface comprises a sub-portion connecting the first mounting interface to the support leg and another sub-portion operatively connecting the first mounting interface to a second adjacent mounting interface. 
     
     
       3. An anchoring system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one connecting member of the first mounting interface comprises the sub-portion connecting the first mounting interface to the support leg and another sub-portion operatively connecting the first mounting interface to a third subsequent lower mounting interface. 
     
     
       4. An anchoring system according to any  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connecting member of a given first mounting interface comprises a sub-portion connecting said given first mounting interface to the support leg and another sub-portion directly connecting said given first mounting interface to at least one other mounting interface of the anchoring module. 
     
     
       5. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connecting member and sub-portions thereof form a single piece interconnecting the at least two mounting interfaces. 
     
     
       6. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connecting member includes at least on arcuate segment opposite to the edge of the support leg, and extending between adjacent mounting interfaces. 
     
     
       7. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connecting member comprises a first and second arcuate segments, the first arcuate segment extending between first and second adjacent mounting interfaces, and the second arcuate segment extending between second and third adjacent mounting interfaces. 
     
     
       8. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one given module of the system comprises an upright support leg configured to be substantially parallel relative to the pole when anchored into the ground surface. 
     
     
       9. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one given module of the system comprises a slanted support leg configured to be inclined relative to the pole when anchored into the ground surface. 
     
     
       10. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises n modules being interconnectable to one another for surrounding the pole, n being the number of support legs, each support leg being separated from an adjacent support leg by an angular interval of about 360°/n upon the mounting interfaces of each support leg being secured to the pole, n being greater than or equal to 2. 
     
     
       11. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein each mounting interface comprises a mounting surface for engaging with a surface of the pole. 
     
     
       12. An anchoring system according to  claim 11 , wherein each mounting surface has a curvature substantially corresponding to a curvature of the surface of the pole, and each mounting interface has opposed extremities, each extremity being provided with a wing extending away from said extremity, each wing of a given mounting interface of a first support leg being configured for interconnecting with a corresponding wing of a mounting interface of an adjacent second support leg. 
     
     
       13. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein each support leg is inclined at a support leg angle relative to a vertical axis of the pole, and wherein said support leg angle is between about 0° and about 10°. 
     
     
       14. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein each support leg includes a cylindrical hollow-tube, a ground-surface end being securable into the ground surface, and a gripping mechanism for gripping into the ground surface. 
     
     
       15. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein each support leg is between about 5-feet and about 6-feet long, and has a diameter between about 1.5 inches and about 3 inches. 
     
     
       16. An anchoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connecting member of a first mounting interface comprises a sub-portion connecting the first mounting interface to the support leg and another sub-portion operatively connecting the first mounting interface to a second adjacent mounting interface; wherein each connecting member comprises a support-leg section extending along a segment of the edge, and wherein support-leg sections of adjacent connecting members form a continuous link between said adjacent connecting members; wherein the at least one connecting member and sub-portions thereof form a single piece interconnecting the at least two mounting interfaces; and wherein the at least one connecting member includes at least one arcuate segment opposite to the edge of the support leg, and extending between adjacent mounting interfaces; wherein the system comprises n modules being interconnectable to one another for surrounding the pole, n being the number of support legs, each support leg being separated from an adjacent support leg by an angular interval of about 360°/n upon the mounting interfaces being secured to the pole, n being greater than or equal to 2; wherein each mounting interface comprises a mounting surface for engaging with a surface of the pole; wherein each mounting surface has a curvature substantially corresponding to a curvature of the surface of the pole, and each mounting interface has opposed extremities, each extremity being provided with a wing extending away from said extremity, each wing of a given mounting interface of a first support leg being configured for interconnecting with a corresponding wing of a mounting interface of an adjacent second support leg; wherein each support leg is inclined at a support leg angle relative to a vertical axis of the pole, and wherein said support leg angle is between about 0° and about 10°; and wherein each support leg includes a cylindrical hollow-tube, a ground-surface end being securable into the ground surface, and a gripping mechanism for gripping into the ground surface. 
     
     
       17. An anchoring assembly for anchoring a pole to a ground surface, the anchoring assembly comprising:
 at least one anchoring system according to  claim 1  or  16 ; and 
 at least one module component configured for use with said at least one anchoring system. 
 
     
     
       18. An anchoring assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one module component is selected from the group consisting of forge anchor bolt ( 49 ), expansion shell, welded pipe, washer and nut. 
     
     
       19. An anchoring assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the anchoring assembly comprises at least one field component configured for use with the at least one module component, the at least one field component being selected from the group consisting of stud, nut and lag bolt. 
     
     
       20. An anchoring assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the anchoring assembly comprises at least one pole to be anchored to the ground surface. 
     
     
       21. A method of anchoring a pole and corresponding butt to a ground surface, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 evaluating parameters of the ground surface; 
 manipulating the ground surface; 
 providing at least one anchoring system according to  claim 1 ; 
 evaluating parameters of the pole; 
 manipulating the pole and corresponding butt; 
 manipulating the at least one anchoring system; and 
 securing the least one anchoring system onto the pole. 
 
     
     
       22. A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the method comprises one of the following additional steps:
 i) the step of removing overburden from the ground surface; 
 ii) the step of resting a butt of the pole directly onto a hard surface of the ground surface; 
 iii) the step of evaluating rock soundness of the ground surface; 
 iv) the step of evaluating a slope of the ground surface; 
 v) the step of ensuring that a maximum allowable slope in a hard surface under the pole is not greater than about 3 inches over the diameter of the pole butt; 
 vi) the step of consulting a selection chart to provide a plurality of anchoring systems in accordance with given parameters of the pole; 
 vii) the step of drilling a working surface of the ground surface using a corresponding rock drilling template; 
 viii) the step of fitting an assembled template to the pole butt; 
 ix) the step of adjusting the assembled template for a given size of the pole; 
 x) the step of drilling at least one hole; 
 xi) the step of ensuring that each hole being drilled extends in a substantially parallel manner with respect to the pole; 
 xii) the step of ensuring that each hole being drilled points outwardly from the pole center; 
 xiii) the step of beginning to drill at a highest point of a working surface of the ground surface; 
 xiv) the step of drilling a diameter hole of about 2 inches to a depth of about 24 inches using a template; 
 xv) the step of drilling a diameter hole of about 3 inches to a depth of about 29 inches using a template; 
 xvi) the step of inserting at least one anchor for each corresponding hole having been drilled; 
 xvii) the step of loosely connecting saddles with corresponding studs; 
 xviii) the step of erecting the pole so as to hold the pole in place in a substantially vertical manner; 
 xix) the step of tightening each stud to grip the pole within each saddle; 
 xx) the step of ensuring that corresponding nuts are tightened; 
 xxi) the step of tightening anchor bolts; 
 xxii) the step of tightening anchor bolts to a torque of about 400 N-m; 
 xiii) the step of pre-drilling holes into the pole; 
 xxiv) the step of installing at least one lag bolt; 
 xv) the step of grouting the pre-drilled holes.